Close
Search

February 26, 2021

IECRM SAFETY FORUM: Electrical Job Site Safety

Wednesday, February 24, 2021
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Hosted by IECRM


Safety Forums are held monthly. 
Upcoming Safety Forums Dates:
3/31/21 – Ladder and Fall Safety – Register now!
4/28/21 – UL on Specific Equipment – Register now!

Member Forums will be scheduled monthly.  Please watch your inbox for future dates.
Upcoming Member Forum Date:  Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 AM. Register now!
Topic:  Bridging the Gap; Work-Life Partnership, hosted by IECRM Diversity & Inclusion

Watch the VIDEO RECORDING of Wednesday’s safety forum.  It will also be sent out through IECRM Membership communications.  If you are not currently receiving these important emails, let us know at [email protected].

Near Misses-when something is prevented by the safety procedures in place.  It is important to have safety protocols in place to help and diminish “near misses.”

Question:  Has anyone had any near misses?

  • Vehicles are the biggest exposure to safety issues in construction.  Be sure you’re having a conversation with your team about vehicle safety.  Don’t be distracted.  Give yourself enough time to get to where you are going.
  • Standby power/generators– what have you seen in the last few weeks with the incredibly cold weather?  The supply has been impacted because of the cold in TX and other states.  There will be a huge shortage in the market.
  • Wearing Masks – People still not wearing masks on the job sites.  Superintendents are not enforcing it.  Make sure you have protocols in place and enforce those standards.
  • Exothermic welding is NOT being shut down by OSHA.  This is a false rumor.  If you need training exothermic training, Jay Commuso is willing to do the training and do it for free.
    • Jay Commuso, I-Pro

SAFETY FORUM RECAP

Subject Matter Experts:

Brad Boswell, Safety Manager
Weifield Group Contracting

Duffy Stroumbos, Training Director
Weifield Group Contracting


Electrical Job Site Safety

  • The ultimate goal is to get everyone home safely every night.
  • We want to make sure we are getting through to our electricians about safety.
  • When teaching safety, we aren’t just teaching trade skills, but life skills.
  • If you aren’t comfortable with someone’s skill level to do the job safely, stop and show them the proper way until they understand it and consistently do it safely.
  • A lot of people coming into the trade don’t have a basic skill level that they’ve been given outside of the industry.  Kids are no longer taught basic skills from the family unit like they used to be taught.  We need to find a way (and it’s our obligation) to train the young field workers in proper safety skills.
  • Started “Apprentice Bootcamp” to build a cultural band of brothers and sisters when it comes to safety.  We start it early because we have many processes and procedures.  The apprentices responded very positively to the training.  “Everybody looks out for each other.”  The culture is built on relationships and culture which seems to work better.
  • If your foreman is on your case, it means he loves you.  If he’s not talking to you, that’s when you’re in trouble.\
  • If you carry pictures in your pocket of your family and loved ones, look at those pictures before you do something stupid. It gives them that reminder of why they want to be safe.  
  • Change how you talk to “green” apprentices.  They are new and need a little extra TLC.
  • Do training for ALL levels of employees.  This includes foremen training, great boss training, and how to be a leader. Make sure you are training EVERYONE at EVERY LEVEL.

Processes of dealing with people

  • Everyone follows the processes.  If something changes, everyone gets the same change.
  • Sometimes the failure comes in the communication.  We may be so busy talking that we aren’t listening or paying attention to what is going on.

Processes Electrically

  • When we set up for a project, we set up the temp power specific to the job site.  Sub-contractors need to communicate what their needs are if they need more accommodations for what they’re doing.  This conversation needs to happen on day 1.
  • Equipment – let the GC know what equipment is needed.  You don’t want to wait.  It will help avoid shutdowns on job sites.
  • Please instruct your people not to stab GFCI turtles with screwdrivers.
  • When starting a project, do a walk-through for safety and job site orientation.  Communicate with the people what their responsibilities are on day 1 so there is no miscommunication or misunderstanding.  
  • If people aren’t willing to follow the rules, that’s usually a sign that they may do things unsafely.
  • Know what equipment is on the job site in advance.  This ensures that you are aware of needed training before the electricians show up on the job site.  Find out who has had the training, and who needs the training.
  • Know what lockout – tag out looks like before permanent power is turned on.

Most injuries are preventable and self-inflicted by stupid mistakes or being in a hurry.  Be consistent in making safety appealing to your team and communicating your expectations.

An example used for safety:

Take a pen and scribble your name. Then write your name so everyone can read it. How much extra time did it take?  The same is true of doing things safely.

OSHA Recordkeeping Update: Ensuring Compliance After COVID-19
March 9th at 12:00 NOON  
Register now!  

 

2021 IECRM Safety Forum Calendar
March 31, 2021– Ladder Safety and Fall Prevention
April 28, 2021-Tyson from UL (the White Book)
May 26, 2021-Temp Worker Safety with Contractors (Garret Taylor)
June 30, 2021– Driver Distraction / Safety (Possibly a Federated  presentation)
July 28, 2021 – Job Site Tour-Suggested-Western Stock Show tour
August 25, 2021 – 2022 Scheduling
September 29, 2021 – Mental Health
October 27, 2021 – Winter Jobsite Heating / Signage
November 2021 – No meeting this month
December 15, 2021 – Administrative Controls / Engineering Controls for Safety

IECRM Self-Pay Tuition Policy

 

Self-pay students who are employed with a member company must register and pay through the member company using the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process in order to qualify for member rates.

Self-pay students that are employed with a member company but that do not register and pay through the member will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who are employed with a member company and require a payment plan will not qualify for the member rate and will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who do not work for a member company will continue to be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


To maximize association/membership benefits, ALL member companies are encouraged to register and pay for all enrolled apprentices utilizing internal payment arrangements and processes between employer and employee.


We value our IECRM members and apprentice community. We encourage all apprentices to be enrolled in the four-year apprenticeship program, earning, and learning their way toward Journeyworker licensure. We encourage all members to utilize the member discount for tuition, books and applicable fees to ensure the long-term support and success of the next-generation electrician.


(Payment Plans are available, please reference the Self Pay Payment Plan Policy.)


Self-Pay Payment Plan Policy


We offer the following arrangements for students that are unable to pay in full at the time of registration.


● Self-pay students will be charged the non-member rate.
● A 50% down payment of total semester tuition, books and applicable fees are due at registration.
● Remaining balance can be divided up to 3 additional monthly payments ($10.00 processing fee applies on each installment)
● All payments that are declined will incur a $20.00 NSF fee.

 

We encourage all students who are employed with a member company to work with their employer to register and pay through the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process. This will ensure the student is paying the lowest possible rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.